Container



NW, 5,1935. c. H. ROLLASON 9 1 CONTAINER Filed Jan. 2'7, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l C. H. ROLLASON CONTAINER Filed Jan. 27, 1953- 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVE TOR Patented Nov. 5, I935 v i i ,019,733

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Wheeling Steel Corporation,

Wheeling,

W. Va., a corporation of Delaware Application January 27, 1933, Serial No. 653,777

1 Claim. (01. 220-86) This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to containers of the non-substituting type which have for their purpose to prevent unauthorized refilling or contamination of their contents or substitution of different material for the contents thereof. Non-substituting containers have many uses one of the more important of which at the present time is for the sale of lubricating oil intended for use in automobiles.

Although the invention in its broader aspects is not so limited, it is especially well adapted for embodiment in containers for lubricating oil, and in certain present preferred embodiments thereof herein described and illustrated purely for purposes of explanation the invention will be considered as embodied in a sheet metal container for lubricating oil.

Certain problems arise in the provision of a satisfactory non-substituting container. One is the provision of a vent to permit air to enter the container during delivery of its contents so as to permit free flow thereof without, however, making it practicable to introduce material into the container through the vent. Another problem is the provision of means in the delivery conduit which can be supplied at low cost and which will effectively prevent introduction of material through such conduit while permitting delivery of material therethrough.

Other attempts have been made to solve the problems above mentioned and related problems, but no entirely satisfactory solution taking into consideration both the question of assurance against substitution and the question of cost has been made. Containers have been provided which have been fairly satisfactory from the standpoint of safety, but the cost of which would prohibit their use on a commercial scale. Cheaper containers have not been found suitable from the standpoint of insurance against substitution.

I have provided a container which is inexpensive to manufacture and which can be commeroially produced in quantity at low cost and which at the same time provides satisfactory insurance against substitution of its contents. Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of certain present preferred embodiments thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein Figure 1 is an elevational View of a container with a portion cut away and with portions in vertical cross-section;

Figure '2 is a vertical cross-sectional view to enlarged scale through a portion of the container shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional View the same as Figure 2 but showing a gauge inserted iv into the container; 5'

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of a portion of what is shown in Figure 3 with the gauge shown in horizontal cross-section;

Figure 5 is a detail vertical cross-sectional View showing a modified form; 10

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of what is shown in Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a detail vertical cross-sectional view similar to Figure 5 showing a further modification;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of what is shown in Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of what is shown in Figure 2; I

Figure 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view 20 to enlarged scale through a portion of the con t-ainer shown in Figure 1; and

Figures 11 and 12 are vertical cross-sectional views similar to Figure 10 showing modified therein reverse curves II] to prevent the insertion of a rod or other instrument for tampering with the valve at the bottom of the conduit. At its bottom there is threaded to the conduit 9 a downwardly open hell or casing ll having a, downwardly facing internal shoulder 12. Adapted to be pressed into the casing H and to seat against the shoulder I2 is a sheet metal member l3 having a central opening and formed to pro- Vide at such central opening a valve seat I. Go-

operating with the seat I4 is a sheet metal valve l5 having the shape of half of a hollow ball. The seat I4 is concavely spherically curved so that the valve lfilseats tightly thereagainst even 5 though the valve may be slightly tilted. The valve is resiliently urged against the seat by a tapered coil spring l6 engaging within the hollow top of the valve and whose upper end is centered about the downwardly projecting extremity I! of the conduit 9. The bottom head 4 of the container 2 is provided substantially centrally thereof with a depressed ring or corrugation I8 into which the bottom of the casing II extends.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 2, the head 3 also carries an internally threaded ring I9. About said ring the material of the head is bent downwardly, the ring having a flange .29 which is bent upwardly around the extremity of the material of the head. The ring I9 has an upper outwardly projecting flange 2|,

and interposed between said flange 2I and the material of the head 3 are a ring of sheet metal 22 and a gasket or washer 23. The assembly of the head 3, ring I9, ring 22 and gasket 23 is so effected as to substantially permanently maintain the respective parts in the relationship, shown in Figure 2. A fluid-tight joint is thus provided. 7

Threaded within the ring I9 is a head 24 having a central opening formed with a relatively large upper portion 25 and a relatively small lower portion 26. The head 24 carries at its bottom downwardly and inwardly extending brackets 21 carrying a pair of oppositely disposed slides 28. The slides 28 are mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the brackets 21 and come together substantially at the center line of the opening through the head. Each slide has a downward projection 29, such projections being connected by a pair of coil springs 39 which normally urge the slides toward one another, or into the-position shown in Figure 2. Each slide has an elongated body portion and a transversely extending portion 3|, as shown in Figure 4, cooperating with the body portion of the other slide. The inner extremities of the portions 3| of the slides are bent slightly downwardly, as shown at 32 for a purpose to be presently described.

The upper portion of the head 24 is formed as a hollow hub 33 shaped to receive a sheet metal cap 34 which is preferably an ordinary crown seal such as are used for bottle caps but without the customary cork liner. The liner may be used if desired. Connected with the periphery of the ring 22 is an outside sealing portion or cap 35., also of sheet metal, and which is preferably clamped about the edge of the ring 22 and may be brazed or welded thereto. The construction is such as to provide a double seal, the external cap 35 preferably being frangible and making it necessary to puncture the same in order to withdraw the contents of the container. The cap 35 is-preferably embossed, as at 36, to provide a weakened portion adapted to be punctured by a suitable tool 31 (Figure 2), which may be forced through the same and through the inner cap 34 to breakthe seal. The cap 35 is shown in Figure 8-- as having been punctured at 36", the embossing on the cap being of the same general shape as the fracture and providing for a fracture such as that shown. The inner cap may be embossed similarly to the outer cap 35, as at 34, so as to produce a similar fracture (see Figure 3) upon passage of the tool 31 therethrough. The head of the tool 31 may enter the enlarged portion 25 of the opening through the head 24, but by reason of its size will not pass within the lower portion 26. a

When the seal is broken the opening in the container serves two purposes, first, to permit the venting of air into the container to displace the contents as they are removed through the conduit 9,- and, second, to receive a gauge 38 which may be inserted and withdrawn at will for the purpose of determining the amount of liquid in the container at any time. The slides 28 permit insertion of the gauge and permit venting of air,

but prevent free passage of liquid whether or not B a gauge has been inserted within the gauge passage 26. This passage 26 is quite narrow relative to its width and is adapted to fairly snugly receive the gauge. The gauge preferably has a pointed nose 39 acting to cam back the slide; 28 10 by cooperation with the downwardly bent portions 32 thereof when the gauge is inserted, the springs 30 holding the inner edges of the slides against the gauge. When the gauge is withdrawn the slides come together so that at no 15 time can there be free passage of liquid through the vent or gauge passage. When the slides are together in the position shown in Figure 2 they prevent free passage of liquid, although the joint is not air-tight and air may pass through with 20 suificient rapidity to displace the contents of the container as the latter are withdrawn.

If the cap 35 is unbroken this gives assurance that the contents of the container have not been tampered with since it was originally filled, as 2 the container is airtight and its contents cannot be freely withdrawn unless air is admitted. Likewise other liquid could not have been introduced into the container as the vent opening is sealed and the valve I5 prevents inward flow 39 through the conduit 9. The curves It in the conduit 9 prevent passage through such conduit of a rod, stiif wire or other instrument which might be effective for tampering with the valve I5 or the spring I9 whereby to unseat or permit 3 unseating of such valve so that liquid can be introduced downwardly through the conduit 9, past the valve I5 and into the container. Any device flexible enough to pass through the curves in the conduit 9 would not likely serve to displace or 40 permit displacement of the valve from its seat. Even after the seal has been broken it is not practicable to tamper with the contents of the container as the slides 28 prevent free passage of liquid therepast. 45

In operation the screw plug 8 is removed from the fitting 6 and any suitable pump is connected with the top of the conduit 9 for withdrawing the contents of the container. As the contents are withdrawn air will enter the container through 50 the vent todisplace the contents of the container, thus permitting free withdrawal thereof. The operation of the pump creates a partial vacuum Within the conduit 9, being effective for lifting the valve I5 with respect to its seat to permit the passage of liquid. When the pump is not in operation the spring I 6 holds the valve firmly against its seat.

In Figures 11 and 12 are shown certain modified constructions for use at the base 01' the conduit 9. In Figure 11 a fitting 49 is threaded to the bottom of the conduit, such fitting having an outwardly projecting flange 4| about which is crimpeda double thickness portion 42 of a sheet metal member 43. The member 43 has a skirt portion 44 whichextends down to the lower head 4 of the container and which is provided with passages 45 to permit lubricant to enter the member 43. The inner portion of the member 43 is inwardly and downwardly bent, as shown at 49, forming a substantially conical valve seat 41. Another sheet metal member 48 is held in place between a portion 49 of the member 43 and the bottom of the flange M, such member 48 having through passages 50 and having a central down- 7 ward projection 5|. A generally conical sheet metal valve 52 lies within and cooperates with the valve seat 41, the valve 52'having a central upward projection 53. A coil spring 54 is biased between theprojections 5i and 53 and urges the valve 52 against its seat 41. Flow of liquid is permitted through the conduit 9 and through the openings in the member 48 and between the valve 52 and its seat 41 when the valve is lifted with respect toits seat.

In Figure 12 a fitting 55 having an outwardly extending flange 56 is threaded to the bottom of the conduit 9, and a sheet metal member 51 having a skirt portion 58 is crimped around the flange. The member 51 cooperates with the flange to hold in place two other sheet metal members 59 and 60, the former corresponding generally to the member 48 shown in Figure 11 and being provided with openings 6! and a central downward projection 62. The member 60 provides a generally conical valve seat 63 having at its lower extremity feet 64 extending down and resting on the lower container head 4. A generally conical valve 65 is provided having an upward central projection 66. A coil spring 61 biased between the projections 62 and 66 urges the valve 65 against its seat. The head 4 is similar to the head shown in Figure 10 having an annular depression I8 into which the extremity of the skirt 58 extends.

In Figures 5 and 6 is shown a modified type of construction for preventing free passage of liquid through the vent opening. This construction embodies a head 24a, generally similar to the head 24 shown in Figures 2 and 3 except that in place of the slides 28 the head 24a is provided with downwardly and inwardly bent flanges 68 between which are held a pair of coil springs 69. Downward projections ill at the ends of the springs cooperate with the flanges 68 to snugly hold the springs 69 in place and against one another. The springs 69 are coiled with reasonable tightness so as to prevent the free passage of liquid, but by reason of their inherent resiliency may be bent or displaced upon entrance of the gauge 38 so as to permit passage of such gauge therepast. When the gauge is withdrawn the springs resume the position'shown in Figure 6, permitting venting of air but preventing free passage of liquid.

Another modified construction is shown in Figure 7 in which there is provided a head 241) similar to the heads 24 and 24a. but having a downward annular projection H which is externally threaded and to which is screwed a cap 12 having a central opening 13 adapted to correspond and be aligned with the vent or gauge passage. The cap 12 contains a plurality of balls 14, preferably in the nature of large sized metal shot, which permit the passage of the gauge therethrough and the venting of air but prevent free flow of liquid. Introduction of the gauge displaces the balls so that the gauge may pass downwardly through the opening 13. Upon withdrawal of the gauge the balls resume their position substantially as shown in Figure 7 under the influence of gravity. Instead of balls, rods or any other suitable means may be utilized within the cap I2.

While I have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the same is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

A container of the non-substituting type having a one-way outlet and having a gauge passage, frangible means normally sealing the gauge passage, and means permitting insertion of a gauge into said gauge passage upon unsealing the same, said means permitting venting of air but preventing free passage of liquid therethrough whether or not a. gauge is within said gauge passage.

CHARLES H. ROLLASON. 

